2023 Reprint of the 1940 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This music collections provides words and music to 230 classic African-American Folk songs. Here are the original spirituals, the mournful Blues, the rhythmic work songs, the high-hearted cake-walk and the dance tunes of African Americans in the United States up to World War II.

This collection was assembled by Dr. John W. Work of Fisk University, home of the famed Fisk Jubilee Singers who first presented Negro Spirituals to the world at large. Dr. Work has included an authoritative, historical, and critical survey of Negro music and the various types of Negro folk songs.

Contents: Origins -- The spiritual -- The blues -- Work songs -- Social and miscellaneous -- The songs.; The songs.; Ain't I glad I've got out of the wilderness --; Ain't that good news? --; Ain't you glad you got good religion? --; All over this world --; Angels done bowed down --; At the bar of God --; Balm in Gilead --; Before this time another year --; Bet on Stuball --; Be with me --; Bye and bye (2 versions) --; Calvary --; Can't you live humble --; Captain, O Captain --; Captain says hurry --; Come down --; Come here Lord --; Convict song --; Daniel saw the stone --; Death ain't nothin' but a robber --; Death's goin' to lay his hand on me --; Do Lord remember me --; Done made my vow to the Lord --; Don't you let nobody turn you roun' --; Down on me --; Downward road is crowded --; Ev'ry day'll be Sunday --; Ezek'el saw the wheel --; Free at last --; Gift of God --; Give me Jesus --; Give me your hand --; Glory to that newborn King --; God is a God --; Go down 'n the valley and pray --; Go down Moses --; God's goin' to straighten them --; Going home in the chariot --; Going to shout all over God's heav'n --; Goin' keep my skillet greasy --; Gonna leave big rock behind --; Good Lord I done done --; Good morning everybody --; Got a home in that rock --; Go tell it on the mountain --; Got my letter --; Got no money --; Got religion all around the world --; Got to go to judgment --; Great day --; Had to get up this mornin' --; Hallelu --; Hallelujah --; Hammering --; Hammers keep ringing --; Hear me praying --; He is King of Kings --; He never said a mumblin' word --; He's a mighty good leader --; He's got his eyes on you --; Hold the wind --; Holy Bible --; Hot boilin' sun comin' over --; I am the true vine --; I believe this is Jesus --; I couldn't hear nobody pray --; I feel like my time ain't long --; I got a house in Baltimo' --; I have another building --; I heard the preacher of the elder --; I know the Lord's laid his hand on me --; I'll be there --; I'm a-going to do all I can --; I'm agoing to join the band --; I'm going back with Jesus --; I'm goin' to sing --; I'm just a-goin' over there --; I'm so glad --; I'm working on the buildin' --; I must walk my lonesome valley --; Inching along --; I never felt such love in my soul befo' --; In this lan' --; Is there anybody here? --; It's me --; I've done what you told me to do --; I've just come from the fountain --; I want to be ready --; I went down in the valley --; I will pray --; I wish I had died in Egypt land --; I won't stop praying --; Jesus is risen from the dead --; Jesus goin' to make up my dying bed --; Jim Strange killed Lula --; John Henry (2 versions) --; Jubilee --; King Jesus built me a house above --; Lay ten dollars down --; Lead me to the rock --; Let the church roll on --; Let us cheer the weary traveller --; Listen to the angel's shoutin' --; Listen to the lambs --; Little David --; Little talk with Jesus and many, many more